MaXXsettings
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Introduction
MaXXsettings is a robust and dynamic configuration management subsystem, purpose-built for simplicity without compromising flexibility or extensibility. It includes a powerful CLI interface, enabling seamless management, scripting automation, inline queries, and straightforward integration with applications.
In addition, MaXXsettings offers Java and C++ bindings, making it highly adaptable and easy to integrate into modern applications. It supports the definition of system-wide configurations, known as Instruments, as well as user-specific overrides, referred to as User Preferences, providing a versatile framework for both centralized and personalized settings management.
Refer to MaXXsettings Framework documentation for more detail regarding the features and goals.
For the complete Technical Specifications, refer to this [online] document
Design
The Architecture design on which MaXXsettings is built follows the Client/Server model, where the Client is represented by Users using a CLI type interface or Applications using an API both interacting with the Server. The Server provides the functionality to manage instrumentation on behalf of the Client.
The diagram illustrates the overall architecture of MaXXsettings.
Development and Execution Platform
Java was selected for the first implementation of the server for its richness in features, robustness, maturity and special affinity with backend/service APIs and prebuilt components. The GraalVM was selected for its ability to compile Java byte-code into native code and offer optimizations with added benefits of reducing startup and boosting execution speed quite considerably.
MaXXsettings can be integrated into modern desktop applications using its CLI interface or via C++ & Java APIs.
Data Persistence
All information managed by MaXXsettings is persisted into regular text files. No external dependency required for the settings database.
Database
The database format is built around text files utilizing a fixed-length field strategy to ensure simplicity and enable high-performance read and seek operations. Its design leverages computable hash codes derived from the Instrument's name or key, which are mapped to a hierarchical directory structure. The stored information is intentionally minimal, as the database primarily serves as a lookup mechanism, optimizing both storage efficiency and access speed.
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